Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is myofunctional therapy?
Myofunctional therapy is a structured, exercise-based therapy that retrains how the tongue, lips, jaw, and facial muscles function during breathing, swallowing, speaking, and at rest. It focuses on correcting patterns that contribute to mouth breathing, poor sleep, jaw tension, airway issues, and long-term compensation.
Do I need a referral from a dentist or doctor?
No referral is required to schedule an evaluation or begin myofunctional therapy.
Collaborative care is often an important part of achieving the best outcome. Depending on your symptoms and goals, I may recommend working alongside other providers such as a dentist, orthodontist, physician, sleep specialist, tongue-tie release provider, or bodyworker to better understand the full picture and support long-term success.
This team-based approach helps determine what will support long-term success—not just short-term improvement. Clients who are open to completing recommended assessments and working as part of a care team tend to see the strongest, most sustainable results.
Choosing not to pursue recommended evaluations or collaborative care doesn’t mean therapy can’t help, but it may limit outcomes and lead to frustration over time. Clear expectations and follow-through are an important part of this process.
Is therapy done in person or virtually?
All therapy is provided through one-on-one virtual sessions. This allows for flexibility, consistency, and access to care regardless of location.
How long are the sessions?
Free Assessment is up to 30 minutes
Comprehensive Evaluation Session is 90 minutes
Therapy Sessions are typically 30 minutes
Therapy sessions are typically scheduled every two to three weeks, depending on the program and individual needs. This spacing allows time for practice, adaptation, and meaningful progress between visits.
How long does it take to see results?
Therapy is offered in structured 6-month and 12-month programs. The length depends on the complexity of the patterns being addressed, how long symptoms have been present, and how consistently exercises are practiced.
This is not a quick fix. Change happens through repetition and guided progression over time.
What does the time commitment look like between sessions?
Most clients spend a few minutes per day practicing exercises and integrating new habits. Consistency matters more than intensity. This work fits into daily life, but it does require participation.
Is this a replacement for orthodontics, appliances, CPAP, or medical treatment?
No. Myofunctional therapy is not a direct replacement for orthodontic care, oral appliances, CPAP, or medical treatment.
That said, myofunctional therapy has been shown to improve underlying functional patterns—such as breathing, oral posture, and muscle coordination—that often contribute to the need for these interventions in the first place.
For some individuals, improving oral muscle function and breathing patterns may enhance outcomes, improve comfort, or reduce reliance on certain treatments over time. Whether this leads to changes in orthodontic plans, appliance use, or medical recommendations is determined by your dentist, orthodontist, physician, or sleep specialist. Myofunctional therapy works best as part of a collaborative, airway-focused approach, supporting the foundation so other treatments can be more effective and sustainable.
Do you work with my insurance?
My services are provided on a private-pay basis. I do not participate with insurance plans or submit claims directly, which allows me to focus fully on your care rather than insurance limitations.
Upon request, I’m happy to provide a detailed superbill that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your individual plan.
What kind of clients do best in therapy?
Clients who see the best results are motivated, engaged, and willing to practice consistently. This work is collaborative and works best when you’re invested in the process.
How do I get started?
The first step is scheduling a Comprehensive Myofunctional Evaluation. From there, we’ll determine the best path forward together.
What happens after the evaluation?
After your comprehensive evaluation, I’ll share my findings and professional recommendations. If therapy is appropriate and the fit is right, you’ll receive an invitation to move forward with a program and next steps.
